The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation
The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1987 in Iowa and granted tax-exempt status in July 1988. Based in Ankeny, Iowa, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing grants to pre-selected organizations.
Key facts about The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation
- EIN
- 42-1298057
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $291,700
- Grants made (2024)
- 44
- Average grant
- $6,630
- Median grant
- $4,000
- Primary geography
- Iowa (71% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Applicants must contact the foundation directly for the application process. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation's 44 itemized 2024 grants were Iowa (71%), Illinois (9%) and Minnesota (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Des Moines, IA (10 grants), Ankeny, IA (8 grants), West Des Moines, IA (5 grants) and Clive, IA (2 grants). 98% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
How The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation gives
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation
- How to evaluate The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$292K
+63.9% YoY
Grant Count
44
+10.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
+49.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary purpose is to provide grants to pre-selected organizations, with a particular emphasis on higher education. Key areas of interest include:
- Education (32% of recent giving)
- Social & Human Services (21% of recent giving)
- Religion (11% of recent giving)
- Christian agencies and churches
- Community improvement
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $250 to $62,000, with a median grant amount of $2,500.
Review Cycle
.
How to Apply
** Applicants must contact the foundation directly for the application process. There are no stated deadlines.
Ready to take the next step with The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's giving is concentrated primarily in Iowa, with approximately 72% of grants staying within the state. Additional significant funding reaches Illinois, North Carolina, Arizona, and Minnesota.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 44 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Data (2024):
- Total Assets: $3,540,798
- Total Revenue: $1,117,292
- Total Giving: $291,700
- Total Expenses: $338,250
- Net Assets: $3,532,613
Previous Year Data (2023):
- Total Assets: $2,761,756
- Total Revenue: $986,037
- Total Giving: $178,000
- Total Expenses: $223,937
Revenue Sources (2024):
- Contributions Received: $936,718
- Investment income and dividends
- Net rental income
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
139 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Prairie Ridge Church ($62,000), Alzheimers Assocation ($25,000), Mayo Clinic ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PRAIRIE RIDGE CHURCH Ankeny, IA | GENERAL FUND | $62,000 |
| ALZHEIMERS ASSOCATION Chicago, IL | GENERAL FUND | $25,000 |
| MAYO CLINIC Rochester, MN | ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH | $25,000 |
| WORLD FOOD PRIZE FOUNDATION Urbandale, IA | GENERAL FUND | $12,500 |
| ANKENY AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY Ankeny, IA | GENERAL FUND | $10,500 |
| ANKENY SERVICE CENTER Ankeny, IA | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| BLANK PARK ZOO FOUNDATION INC Des Moines, IA | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| GREATER GREENFIELD COMMUNITY FOUNDATION Greenfield, IA | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| IMPACT COMMUNITY ACTION Des Moines, IA | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| PROFESSIONALS FOR CHARITY (P4C) Clive, IA | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Dennis L. Elwell – President & Director
- Candy Elwell – Director
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dennis L Elwell | Pres, Treas & Director | 0.25 | — |
| Candy Elwell | VP, Sec & Director | 0.25 | — |
| Brianna Elwell Kinsley | Director | 0.25 | — |
| Christian M Murray | Director | 0.25 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2021, the Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation made a $2 million donation to the Iowa State Fair, resulting in the creation of the Elwell Family Park at the fairgrounds.
Iowa State Fair announces $2 million donation, Elwell Family ParkFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary purpose is to provide grants to pre-selected organizations, with a particular emphasis on higher education. Key areas of interest include: • Education (32% of recent giving) • Social & Human Services (21% of recent giving) • Religion (11% of recent giving) • Christian agencies and churches • Community improvement
How do I apply for a grant from The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation?
Applicants must contact the foundation directly for the application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation make grants?
The foundation's giving is concentrated primarily in Iowa, with approximately 72% of grants staying within the state. Additional significant funding reaches Illinois, North Carolina, Arizona, and Minnesota.
What size grants does The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation award?
In 2024, The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation awarded 44 grants totaling $292K — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation's EIN?
The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-1298057. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.